Gentry Estes
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Gentry Estes
@gentryestes.bsky.social
130 followers 60 following 140 posts
Sports Columnist at The Tennessean.

https://www.tennessean.com/staff/2647735001/gentry-estes/

Tired of being clever. Everybody’s clever these days.
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gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Last night, the SEC’s highest-ranked men’s basketball team played its sloppiest, ugliest game of what had thus far been beautiful season. But Vanderbilt still won, and we learned the most yet about a team with a lot of potential for March.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
An ugly night in Memphis doesn't beat Vanderbilt basketball | Estes
Mark Byington's unbeaten Commodores are the SEC's highest-ranked team, but they hadn't gotten a test like the one they passed in Memphis.
www.tennessean.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW FROM NYC (No paywall): Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia believed in the unbelievable, and in accomplishing it, he made Vanderbilt football do the same.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Love or hate him, but Diego Pavia changed Vanderbilt for good | Estes
Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia believed in the unbelievable, and in accomplishing it, he made Vanderbilt football do the same.
www.tennessean.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:53 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
Good morning from Heisman media day in New York with four finalists.

(Nice, new backdrop for Vanderbilt)
December 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
Friday night hoops, anyone?

Looking forward to a good one at Bridgestone this evening between Kentucky and Gonzaga.
December 5, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by Gentry Estes
hlhiii.bsky.social
Great suggestion here by @gentryestes.bsky.social and an outlandish idea:
1. Stop the dang in-season CFP rankings
2. Scrap the SEC champ game and make it a game between the 2 teams with the most to play for.

Crazy? Yes. Better than what we’ve got? Also yes.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
For Vanderbilt football, deserve has got nothing to do with it | Estes
Vanderbilt's pending snub by the College Football Playoff committee isn't going to be fair or irrefutable. But that's college football, same as ever.
www.tennessean.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: At Vanderbilt, Clark Lea has done what couldn't be done.

Credit to him for that. And, now, for staying to build on it.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
At Vanderbilt, Clark Lea has done what couldn't be done | Estes
What's happening now, Clark Lea predicted years ago that it would happen at Vanderbilt. Credit to him for doing it. And for staying.
www.tennessean.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
Clark Lea signs extension to remain Vanderbilt football coach:

“I am excited to be able to continue the work we started. … Our vision has never been about one or two seasons. Rather, it has always been about sustained success at a championship level.”
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Clark Lea signs extension to remain Vanderbilt football coach
Clark Lea signed a contract extension with Vanderbilt football.
www.tennessean.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: In either stadium, all you see when you look at #Titans right now is a construction sign.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
All you see when you look at Tennessee Titans is construction | Estes
The Tennessee Titans are building a brand new stadium and a brand new team at the same time. The only thing to lean on? Hope for the future.
www.tennessean.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Diego Pavia is not just the heart of Vandy football. He has been its smirking revenge against SEC programs that spent decades belittling the Dores.

Who else, though, belittles them like the Vols? In Vandy’s biggest game ever, can Pavia beat them?

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
www.tennessean.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by Gentry Estes
abstracttruth.bsky.social
Happy anniversary to the Max Headroom incident, the greatest example of signal hijacking.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Hea...
screen grab from video of the incident. Dude dressed up like Max Headroom wearing sunglass is laughing.
November 22, 2025 at 1:17 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Barry Trotz, Andrew Brunette are in Predators' misery together.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Barry Trotz, Andrew Brunette are in Predators' misery together | Estes
Firing Andrew Brunette, which Barry Trotz isn't keen on doing, wouldn't be an easy fix for a Nashville Predators team that doesn't look fixable.
www.tennessean.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: There’ve been Battles of the Boulevard more pleasant to watch than last night’s untidy win for @BelmontMBB over a rebuilding @LipscombMBB, though we are already learning something important about a Bruins team trying to get back to an NCAA Tournament.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
We learned something about Belmont during an ugly Battle of the Boulevard win | Estes
This Belmont basketball team could play a little differently this season, and that might be a path to get the Bruins back in the NCAA Tournament.
www.tennessean.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:42 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Nearly two seasons into Derek Mason’s coaching return at #MTSU, it’s going worse than anyone would’ve anticipated.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
If Derek Mason gets his chance to fix MTSU football, changes will be in order | Estes
MTSU's 1-9 record means Derek Mason's second season has been a step back from his first. And his first wasn't much better. So what now?
www.tennessean.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Hey Vandy fans, I'm not here to tell you how to spend your time and money.

But if you like how things are going with your football and basketball programs, you may want to pay attention what those coaches are trying to tell you. www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Vanderbilt's fans shouldn't ignore what in-demand coaches are trying to tell them | Estes
Clark Lea, Mark Byington and Shea Ralph are all building strong programs – and lobbying for support from Vanderbilt fans.
www.tennessean.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: After an offseason of hope and tweaks and chips on shoulders and no major changes, the #Preds — predictably — haven’t magically gotten better this season.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
The Nashville Predators can't keep doing the same while expecting better results | Estes
After an offseason without major changes, there hasn't been much change on the ice, either. The Predators are again among the NHL's worst teams.
www.tennessean.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: The swagger displayed by Vanderbilt football and Diego Pavia tends to rile up teams and fans elsewhere, but at 8-2, it doesn’t look so silly in hindsight.

As the great Muhammad Ali said, it ain’t bragging if you can back it up.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Swagger of Vanderbilt football and Diego Pavia doesn't look so silly in hindsight | Estes
For all the criticism that Vanderbilt and quarterback Diego Pavia have earned with swagger, it's difficult to say they haven't mostly backed it up.
www.tennessean.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: In today's game, Vanderbilt went against its own self-interest by scheduling Lipscomb for Monday's season opener at Memorial. But it was good for local fans. College basketball needs more of that.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Vanderbilt beat Lipscomb, but Nashville won with a rare clash of basketball locals | Estes
It wasn't in Vanderbilt's best interest to schedule an opener vs. nearby Lipscomb, but Mark Byington did it anyway. And it's good for the sport.
www.tennessean.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:46 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: A losing team is just gonna keep finding ways to lose. #Titans

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
A losing team like Tennessee Titans is just gonna find a way to lose | Estes
Losing, like winning, can become a habit. And it's one that these Tennessee Titans haven't been able to shed, even when there's an opportunity.
www.tennessean.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Tony Vitello is now representing all of college baseball, not just Tennessee, in his groundbreaking role as of manager of the San Francisco Giants.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
With Giants, Tony Vitello representing all of college baseball, not just Tennessee | Estes
Even though he's now a Major League Baseball manager, here's betting that Tony Vitello is still going to be a college baseball guy at heart.
www.tennessean.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:58 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Lionel Messi, while huge for MLS, remains a world-class hindrance to Nashville SC’s success. #EveryoneN
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Lionel Messi, while huge for MLS, remains a world-class annoyance for Nashville SC | Estes
Perhaps a rivalry with the world's best soccer player isn't the healthiest thing for on-field success.
www.tennessean.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Mark Byington’s first Vanderbilt basketball team surprised last season, and the sequel looks like it’ll be even better.

That’s one of the things I learned on a behind-the-scenes road trip with a new Commodores team set for a new season.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Behind the scenes with Mark Byington and a new Vanderbilt basketball team | Estes
To prep for a promising new season, I tagged along with Vanderbilt's men's basketball team for its exhibition road trip to UAB. Here's what I learned.
www.tennessean.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:38 AM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: We keep hearing about milestones from the 1940s and how far Vanderbilt football has come. Never mind all that. Now it’s about where this potentially special season might be headed.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Never mind how far Vanderbilt football has come. Now it's about where this is going | Estes
If Vanderbilt wants to be viewed as a real-deal title hopeful, then it needs to play more like one than it did against Missouri.
www.tennessean.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: The Bay Area, I’d imagine, has no idea.

Most MLB fans probably think the San Francisco Giants are hiring a typical, boring baseball guy as their new manager. They aren’t. They are hiring Tony Vitello.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Tony Vitello is gone to MLB, and Tennessee baseball just got a lot less fun | Estes)
Tony Vitello is gone for MLB. What does it mean for Tennessee baseball? Time will tell. But it will be a lot less fun.
www.tennessean.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: No one is laughing anymore about Vanderbilt's College Football Playoff dreams this season.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
No one is laughing anymore about Vanderbilt's College Football Playoff dreams | Estes
Most surprising part of Vanderbilt's win over LSU was how routine the experience felt for a program that's beginning to sense what's possible.
www.tennessean.com
October 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
gentryestes.bsky.social
NEW: Remember that Mike Vrabel didn't choose to leave the #Titans. He was fired.

That's why he won't return to Nashville as a villain but as a nostalgic reminder of better days for a franchise that has missed him a lot more than the other way around.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Mike Vrabel isn't a Tennessee Titans villain. He'll be one of their biggest regrets |Estes
Mike Vrabel won't return to Nissan Stadium as a villain but as a nostalgic reminder of much better days for the Tennessee Titans.
www.tennessean.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:06 PM